Lunch: 12.30 for 1pm on Saturday 19th October 2024

Members £99 / Guests £109

Dress: Smart Casual with Chaîne regalia

Full details can be downloaded HERE.

The booking form can be downloaded HERE.

Nandana Syamala and her husband, Sharat, first opened their doors on London Street in the heart of Reading back in 2018, and quickly made a name for themselves with their clay-pot biryanis, squid pakoras and bhuna venison. Then, in lockdown, they started sending out mail-order, vacuum-packed curries and sides, delivering first around Reading and then, hyper-ambitiously, nationwide. Many “professional eaters” raved about them, lapping up Clay’s kheema biryani, spiced fried chicken livers and beetroot potato tikki.

Pivoting to home delivery during lockdown to save your restaurant’s skin was not, the tremendous fun that many chefs tried to make out. Rather, it was a logistical headache. Clay’s not only made it work, but they then made plans to move to a larger venue, which, due to building issues, was delayed and left them unable to trade through December 2022. Nandana’s blog about opening the new, improved Clay’s, featured in the Guardian, is candid: “I have put everything into this, including my health, wealth and soul. I am not the same person I was a few years ago. I have lost a bit of myself to Clay’s … All I have is this obsession with creating something special.”

Nandana and Sharat will make this a special lunch and a fabulous afternoon.

  MENU

  A bespoke 5-course menu with wine or beer pairing
  (Includes a welcome glass of sparkling wine)

  ~

  Bengali beetroot chop
  Cooked beetroot, potatoes, peanuts, Bengali spices in breadcrumbs
  fried to golden perfection.

  Crispy-fired squid bites
  Spiced fried squid bites with spicy seaweed and moringa mayo.

  Malai chicken kebab
  Grilled luscious, melt-in-the-mouth chicken in a creamy blend of yoghurt
  and fragrant spices, mini naan, pickled onion.

  Konkan pork mince
  Coastal south-Indian style pork mince, coconut rice

  Raspberry halwa
  Rich and comforting Indian pudding with semolina, raspberry and
  a small dollop of coconut vanilla ice cream for that perfect blend
  of sweet, tangy, and creamy flavour.

  ~

  Drinks, tea, coffee from 4.30 PM in the bar area, at your own expense.

Address: 22-24 Prospect St, Caversham, Reading RG4 8JG

Website: www.clayskitchen.co.uk

Email: hello@clayskitchen.co.uk

Directions:

By road:

Paid car parking is in the car park behind Clay’s. However, this is limited. It is Ring GO payment 9477. 4 Hours on Saturday is £2.50. Follow Sat Nav to RG4 8JG Alternatively street park up the hill in Caversham and walk down! Go past permit parking and it is about a 10 minute walk back.

By rail:

Please remember Clays is only a 20-minute walk from Reading Centre and Reading train station. There are regular services to Reading from London Paddington, Bristol, and Birmingham, as well as other major railway stations across the UK. Reading Station is only a 20 min walk to Caversham and there are buses 22, 24, 28 and X40 and Caversham from the station.

By taxi:

There are two Taxi ranks at Reading station, one on the town side, one on Caversham side either will do, and it is c£7 journey.

Hotels:

There are many local hotels in the area. My recommendation is either stay locally in Caversham for example at the Crowne Plaza or in Reading centre. Trip Advisor has good examples.